1 nuptial | Definition of nuptial

nuptial

adjective
nup·​tial | \ ˈnəp-shəl How to pronounce nuptial (audio) , -chəl, nonstandard -shə-wəl How to pronounce nuptial (audio) , nonstandard -chə-wəl How to pronounce nuptial (audio) \

Definition of nuptial

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : of or relating to marriage or the marriage ceremony nuptial vows nuptial bliss
2 : characteristic of or occurring in the breeding season nuptial flight

nuptial

noun

Definition of nuptial (Entry 2 of 2)

: marriage, wedding usually used in plural … preparations were instantly commenced for the approaching nuptials.— W. H. Prescott

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Synonyms & Antonyms for nuptial

Synonyms: Adjective

conjugal, connubial, marital, married, matrimonial, wedded

Synonyms: Noun

bridal, espousal, marriage, wedding

Antonyms: Adjective

nonmarital

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Examples of nuptial in a Sentence

Adjective

newlyweds still in a state of nuptial bliss

Noun

their nuptials will take place at the university chapel

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

But while most couples hire a professional photographer for their big day, very few also bring them along on their post-nuptial vacays. Christina Pérez, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Latest Travel Trend? Bringing a Professional Photo Crew on Vacation With You," 25 July 2018 This was a pre-nuptial wedding party before their wedding which is coming up Sept. 21. Shirley Macfarland, cleveland.com, "Start your Labor Day weekend with chicken parprikas, stuffed cabbage and strudel: Talk of the Towns," 16 Aug. 2019 The nuptial celebrations are racking up for Turner and Jonas, who are expected to have their second wedding ceremony tomorrow. Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Sophie Turner Is Wearing High Heels and a Red Dress to Her Rehearsal Dinner with Joe Jonas," 28 June 2019 In the film, Erskine plays Alice, one half of a duo of college buddies (Jack Quaid portrays the other) who agree to scope out attractive singles for each other across dozens of summer nuptial ceremonies. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, "Maya Erskine on graveyard sex, drunk self-love, and winning our hearts in Plus One," 18 June 2019 The nuptial rituals feel similarly stale and unkillable: the proposal, the vows, the first dance. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, "People Are Still Getting Married, and This Book Is Here to Help," 10 June 2019 The amassed vendors will hail from across the nuptial-planning spectrum — including photographers, entertainers, event venues, invitations, florists, bridal salons, beauty services, tuxedos, event lighting and event designers. Daily Pilot Staff, latimes.com, "Around Town: Wooden Boat Festival coming to Newport Beach this weekend," 6 June 2019 When the time comes for the queen to make her nuptial flight, all the drones in other colonies will compete for the honor of insemination. National Geographic, "How honeybees get their jobs—explained," 22 Mar. 2019 Sure enough, decades of uber fashion, art, style, and club gurus collided at the Grill and the Pool for the joyous nuptial celebrations of Marc Jacobs and dashing funster candlesmith Char Defrancesco. Robert Fairer, Vogue, "Inside Marc Jacobs’s Fashion-Filled Wedding at the Grill," 9 Apr. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Holding onto Prince William's hand, Queen Elizabeth was truly the doting grandmother at the royal nuptials. Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "This GIF of Queen Elizabeth Running After a Young Prince William Is So Pure," 27 July 2019 When Ellie is transported into the body of Katherine and forced to cope with the upcoming nuptials and a puzzled fiancé, Joan stiffens her posture, demeanor, and delivery. Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, "An enjoyable tale of transformation in North Shore Music Theatre’s ‘Freaky Friday’," 15 July 2019 On the surface, everyone has mustered in Changchun to celebrate the nuptials of Billi’s cousin, the befuddled Hao Hao (Han Chen), and his semi-silent Japanese fiancée, Aiko (Aoi Mizuhara). Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, "“The Farewell” Mixes Mourning and Revelry," 12 July 2019 South Asian nuptials have grown to 70 percent of the wedding business at Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor, the Pratt Street convention hotel that overlooks Camden Yards. Lorraine Mirabella, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore meets Bollywood: Wedding planners, families say area has become a top choice for South Asian weddings," 10 July 2019 Following the nuptials, the couple (and their notable family and friends) all released the same photo of the duo recessing from their ceremony, photographed by BAZAAR Bride Top Photographer, Corbin Gurkin. Carrie Goldberg, Harper's BAZAAR, "Sophie Turner's Wedding Gown Took Over 350 Hours to Make," 8 July 2019 In protest, residents reenacted the nuptials at a Birmingham Methodist church, an effort to show the state and the nation that Alabama can accept change. Karen Heller, Washington Post, "The battle for Alabama’s soul," 1 July 2019 Angela Weiss/Getty Images The celebrities are gathering in France ahead of the pop culture nuptials of the year: Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas' impending wedding. Emily Dixon, Marie Claire, "Maisie Williams Is Heading to France for Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas' Wedding," 27 June 2019 That leaves a lot less money to spend on extravagant nuptials. Sangeeta Singh-kurtz, Quartz, "Young Americans are racking up debt for Instagrammable weddings," 20 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nuptial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of nuptial

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1555, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for nuptial

Adjective and Noun

Latin nuptialis, from nuptiae, plural, wedding, from nubere to marry; perhaps akin to Greek nymphē bride, nymph

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More Definitions for nuptial

nuptial

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of nuptial

formal : of or relating to marriage or a wedding ceremony

nuptial

adjective
nup·​tial | \ ˈnəp-shəl How to pronounce nuptial (audio) \

Kids Definition of nuptial

: of or relating to marriage or a wedding nuptial vows

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More from Merriam-Webster on nuptial

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nuptial

Spanish Central: Translation of nuptial

Nglish: Translation of nuptial for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of nuptial for Arabic Speakers